On December 6, 1917, the Finnish parliament adopted the declaration of independence. It has been 100 years since then.

In early 1900s, the area of Finland belonged to Russia. Declaration of independence doesn't do much good on its own: independence also needs to be recognized by other countries. On December 29, a delegation asked the Soviet Council of People's Commissars to recognize Finland's independence.

No one knows for sure why they agreed, but they issued a decree to recognize Finland's independence on December 31, and on January 4 it was approved by the highest Soviet executive body, the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. After the Russian recognition, most other countries recognized the independence immediately.

While the independence was obtained without bloodshed, the same unfortunately can't be said for the aftermath. Independence was soon followed by a civil war, where socialists (the "reds") attempted a revolution that would have been followed by rejoining Soviet Russia. They lost the war, but Finnish folk were severely divided until the Winter War, when Finns became unified against a common enemy (Soviet Union).

Anyway, today is a day of great celebration for us. Here's for the next 100 years!

Finland's twentieth century historical events and its self determination victory in an amazing feat of people's resistance against a power they viewed as foreign is a stark lesson on what brought us our modern comforts. Let it be remembered.

A cheery hail for Finland first century -- and may many more come after it -- from Europe's small oldest nation, sunny Portugal.